A former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on bribery and money-laundering charges, along with her son.
Prosecutors on Thursday accused Ingrid Lewis-Martin, aformer chief adviser to Adams, of using her City Hall influence to help a hotel chain with construction plans. Lewis-Martin, who resigned her position on Sunday, was seen entering the lower Manhattan office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg early Thursday morning.
Lewis-Martin, was indicted along with her son Glenn Martin II and two real estate investors, Raizada Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi. All the defendants were charged with Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree. Vaid and Dwivedi are charged with Bribery in the First Degree, while Lewis-Martin and Martin III are charged with Bribe Receiving in the First Degree and Money Laundering in the Third Degree.
According to a statement by Bragg, Lewis-Martin “engaged in a long-running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority… and to illegally influence Department of Buildings and other city decisions in exchange for more than $100,000 in cash and benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.”
Bragg told reporters: “The indictment unsealed today can be summarized in three words — quid pro quo. Today’s indictment alleges and portrays a clear picture: ‘You do this for me and I will do that for you.’ It was not what is in the best interest of the city of New York and those who live here.”
Lewis-Martin, 63, has been one of the mayor’s closest confidants throughout his political career, serving in senior roles under Adams over the past nearly two decades. Adams himself was indicted by a federal grand jury three months ago on bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy charges, in which the mayor was accused of allegedly received lavish gift and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, including from Turkish interests to help that government bypass New York City safety guidelines to open a new consulate building.
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